The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-01
The Report of the Postmaster
General.
4 VERY FLATIERING EXHIBIT.
fOrms-Wise Recommendations
to Congress
p ostal Matters


says; Expectations of growth and
improvement in the affairs of the postal
services, INDUCED in previous reports,
have been realized during the past year.
Revenues have gained upon the preced-
ing year by nearly 81 600, attaining
q height never reached before, de spite
the restrictive operation of various re-
auctions in the rates of postage. The
study of economy has not been without
effect in restraining, in necessarily rails
ing the scale of expenditure, so that the
increase of cash disbursements has but
little over topped $2,000,00O. Thus, the
deficiency charged upon the general
treasury, which two years since was a
round 81 900 900, and a year ago about
$4,000 less, has been reduced almost
three seventies, while fair augury,
from our present circumstances, gives
hope that during the current year it
will nearly, if not entirely, disappear
From the beginning of the current
hscal year the postal service has got TO
become substantially setf-sustaining,
and the prediction will be ventured that
il the revenues Dc not further crippled,
the next fiscal year will yield auI Jus
which should, under the same circum-
stances, annually increase.
The POstmaster-General recommends
the establishment of a correct system
for an approximately uniform organiza-
ton of division of buildings for
pOStotfiCts in Communities OF such size
as to require an Office, independent Of
private affairs; the extension and per-
lection of the system of free delivery
until all communities enjoy its privi-
Ieges, which are so situated as to make
1t their due; the thorough reformation
OF the system OF employing and pay
ing for railroad transportation; the es-
Enlistment of additional fast mail SER
vice, until the trunk lines of mail COM
municatiou are so provided for; pro-
vision for instruction and examination !
OF parsons for appointment in the rail-
way mail service; enlargement OF |
the foreign parcel post system, re-
gently entered upon, so as to embrace |
all countries with which a retail trade !
will be advantageous to our people; and |
addition Of some auXilliaries to our |
means Of postal convenience, calculated |
to enhance the utility Of the service to |
the people.
The excess of the expenditures of the !
department over revenue was S., 459 I03. |
The total mum er of postoffices on July |
1st was 55, 157, besides 613 branch offices. |
A proper compensation of post
masters still presses upon the attention |
OF the department, and appears to
Justly demand further consideration |
by Congress. 1t is more or less con-
fused, as the statutes now stand, with
the provision OF clerical force for
such offices as require more personal
service than the postmaster alone can
properly render. This tends to relative |
injustice between the postmasters, has
excited much discomfort, and, in part,
has stimulated their association to
unitedly present to Congress their
opinions and claims. Observation and
experience has convinced the Post
master General that government should |
build its postottices separately and
solely for postal uses; that they should |
be built in every city or town where the
magnitude of the service warrants an
independent Office, although from time
to time, only as the surplus revenues of
the service will warrant.
The appropriation for clerks in post
offices, during the past year, was made
Quate to the increase of business, and |
caused a deficiency of over $3.50. 600.
The secretary asks that an additional
appropriation be made to meet the de-
fciency, and also that salaries of post
masters be equalized.
tiuued to increase in value during the
past year, the aggregate gain of domes-
tic orders reaching up to $l17 ,462, $50.
The total cost of mail transportation |
during the year was $50, 354 88S. A
little over 7,000 miles had been added to
railroads during the year. The system
from Kansas City TO western California,
Notwithstanding the considerable in
crease of star route servise, neces.
sary to the rising demands OF
the country, actually decreased in
expenditure last year; and the
year ending June Both, 1885 was
1898, 900, and the reduction on the cost
of the fiscal year, 1886, was more, be-
cause of considerable increase of ex-
penditure, put upon that year by con-
tracts previously made.
The postmaster believes that about
81, 500, 900 might be saved annually. if
government would make approprie-
ton for the purchase of postal cars.
The department is recently in receipt
of a petition, signed by prominent
merchants, reporters, and bankers, who
deal with foreign countries, requesting
its good offices to assist in inducing the
postal administrations of the European
mail to the United states, to
send their mails hither by the
swiftest vessels departing from their
ports irrespective of the flags under
whi3h they sail; and suitable action
has been taken to invite other Office s
of foreign postal administrations. Upon
other routes. carriage has been chiefly
in American steamships, at three.foId
higher rates OF sea and inland postage,
although no foreign vessel has hesitated
to accept whatever mails were offered.
Ia reference to the postal convention
with Mexico, the report says that the
differeneei2 currency values of he two
republics, hinde: slargely the fu'l g boy
ment Of exchanges under this reaiy,
and with 6 view 10 relieve this neon
Teniebce, negotiations have been
begun, looking TO the cohciu
sion 81 4 money order convention, {